Outlines in Psalms I. The Violent Character of Wicked Persecutors (Psalm 140:2-5)II. The Lord’s Curse upon Wicked Persecutors (Psalm 140:8-12)

I. The Violent Character of Wicked Persecutors A. They image mischief against the Lord’s servants. Psalm 140:2a – “[The violent] which imagine mischiefs in their heart.” B. They unify together against the Lord’s servants. Psalm 140:2b – “Continually are they gathered together for war.” C. They speak poisonously against the Lord’s servant. Psalm 140:3 – “They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders’ poison is under their lips. Selah.” D. They purpose the overthrow of the Lord’s servant. Psalm 140:4c – “[The violent] who have purposed to overthrow my goings.” E. They set snares against the Lord’s servant. Psalm 140:5 – “The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set gins for me. Selah.”II. The Lord’s Curse upon Wicked Persecutors A. The Lord hinders wicked persecutors from progressing in their agenda. Psalm 140:8 – “Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked: further not his wicked device; lest they exalt themselves. Selah.” B. The Lord overcomes wicked persecutors with the troubles of their own mischief. Psalm 140:9 – “As for the head of those that compass me about, let the mischief of their own lips cover them.” C. The Lord judges wicked persecutors through the fire of His wrath. Psalm 140:10 – “Let burning coals fall upon them: let them be cast into the fire; into deep pits, that they rise not up again.” D. The Lord hunts wicked persecutors with the curse of destruction. Psalm 140:11 – “Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth: evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him.” E. The Lord defends against wicked persecutors the cause of His afflicted servants. Psalm 140:12 – “I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor.”